More travelers getting online

A recent study completed by the PhoCusWright Consumer Travel Trends group found that there had been an increase in the number of people who had traveled commercially in the last thirty days who had also used the internet in the same time period. The correlation showed that those who are traveling and booking either hotels or flights are actively using the internet. This information shows that the growth of the internet has evolved and has made everyone adapt to its ways. The impacts of the study will have impacts to commercial websites as the new users are late adopters or an older generation who did not grow around the internet.

The report discovered that the shopping and traveling experience is completely different for the novice older consumer when compared to the younger more online senior crowd. Susan Steinbrink who is a senior analyst with the company who completed the survey commented, “With new users, travel providers find themselves in the position of needing to assure these shoppers of the value and security of purchasing online.”  As the gap between the new users and more experienced users is wide, the report also recommends that websites who offer travel sales should make sure to provide an approach that would cover the different levels of savvy.

PhoCusWright report also found that of all the different pieces that can be booked for travel, hotel was the most common part that was completed. The report also confirmed the fact that online travel agencies were the preferred method of online booking.